One of the oldest religious festivals in India, Jagannath Puri Rath Yatra 2025 is here! Hindu devotees are waiting for this auspicious festival with great spirituality and enthusiasm. Here are the key details of this sacred festival, including Rath Yatra 2025 dates, auspicious time, and more. Take a look.
Puri Jagannath Rath Yatra 2025: Nine-Day Schedule
| Occasion | Date |
|---|---|
| Anasara/Anavasara | June 13 to June 26 |
| Gundicha Marjana | June 26 |
| Rath Yatra | June 27 |
| Hera Panchami | July 1 |
| Bahuda Yatra | July 4 |
This nine-day celebration will kick start on June 27 with the grand Rath Yatra and will conclude with Niladri Bijay on July 5, 2025.
Jagannath Puri Rath Yatra 2025
This Rath Yatra is also known as the ‘Chariot Festival’ in English. Basically, it is a major Hindu festival celebrated annually in the city of Jagannath Puri in Odisha and gains numerous followers from all around the country. This event is dedicated to Lord Jagannath, a form of Lord Vishnu and his siblings, Balarama (Balabhadra) and Subhadra (sister). Devotees call it by various names as one’s faith, including Jagannath Rath Yatra, Ratha Yatra (Puri), Shree Gundicha Yatra or simply Ratha Jatra in Odia in various parts of the country. Names might be different, but the meaning remains the same. As per the sacred book of Skanda Purana, it is believed that Lord Hari rides his chariot to Gundicha Temple to fulfil his divine promise.
Significance of Puri Ratha Yatra
Lord Jagannath's Temple in Puri is one of the Char Dham and among the most sacred temples in South India. The Rath Yatra in Puri is a symbolic journey of Lord Jagannath from his temple to the Gundicha Temple, representing a royal visit to his aunt's home. As one of the most important festivals in India, Rath Yatra is a grand celebration that attracts millions of devotees to participate in pulling huge chariots. It is believed that doing so cleanses sins and brings divine blessings to devotees' lives.
Puri Rath Yatra 2025: Date and Timings
Ratha Yatra is celebrated on Dwitiya Tithi, the second day of the bright phase (Shukla Paksha) of the lunar month as per the traditional Hindu calendar. This time is considered highly spiritual because of the increasing brightness of the moon. For the current year, Puri Jagannath Rath Yatra 2025 date falls on Friday, June 27.
As per Drik Panchang, a Hindu calendar, auspicious timings for the Jagannath Rath Yatra are as follows:
- Dwitiya Tithi begins at 1:24 PM on June 26, 2025
- Dwitiya Tithi ends at 11:19 AM on June 27, 2025
History of Puri Jagannath Rath Yatra
Jagannath Rath Yatra traces its roots back between the 12th and 16th centuries and is linked with both mythology and historical tradition. It was the time when the holy Jagannath Temple was established. During this nine-day yatra, Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra are taken on a 3-kilometre journey from the Jagannath Temple in Puri to the Gundicha Temple. This temple is considered the birthplace of Lord Jagannath, and he visits there during the Rath Yatra. Gundicha Temple is one of the most divine places to visit in South India, especially during the Rath Yatra.
Some legends also connect this festival to King Indradyumna, who is believed to have constructed the first Jagannath Temple. He is primarily known for his devotion to Lord Vishnu as per Hindu scriptures.
Some also claim that Lord Krishna expressed a wish to visit his birthplace once every year with his family during the Dvapara Yuga. Following his wish, this festival is celebrated in Puri every year. Many renowned acharyas or saints like Adi Shankaracharya, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Ramanujacharya, and others have visited Jagannath Puri and admired the significance of this divine festival.
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What Makes Jagannath Puri Rath Yatra 2025 Special?
During the Rath Yatra (Puri) 2025, Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra are taken in a grand celebration on the beautifully decorated wooden chariots (Raths) from Jagannath Temple to Gundicha Temple. Attending this Chariot Festival and pulling the massive chariots are considered the best things to do in India by pilgrims and every devotee wants to experience it at least once in a lifetime. If you also want to be a part of this religious festival, you can browse through our various Puri tour packages and attend this festival. Let's talk about what makes Jagannath Puri Rath Yatra 2025 extra special:
- Rath Snana: It is a sacred bathing ceremony in which deities are cleaned using 108 pots of holy water.
- Chariot Pulling: Devotees from all over the world pull the enormous wooden chariots of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra.
- Chhera Pahanra: The Gajapati King of Puri sweeps the chariots, symbolizing equality before God.
- Gundicha Temple Stay: All the deities stay at the Gundicha Temple for 7 days and then return to the Jagannath Puri Mandir on Bahuda Yatra.
- Pahandi: The deities are carried in a procession (Pahandi) from the temple to their respective chariots.
Names of All the Chariots of the Jagannath Puri Temple
The three chariots in the Jagannath Puri Rath Yatra are named as -
- Nandighosha: It is the name of the Lord Jagannath’s chariot. It is a large, decorated chariot with sixteen wheels and is adorned with red and yellow cloth.
- Taladhwaja: It is Balabhadra’s chariot and has 14 wheels. It is also known as Haladhwaja or Langaladhwaja and is covered in green and red fabric.
- Darpadalana: Also known as Devadalana or Padmadhwaja, this chariot is for Devi Subhadra. It has 12 wheels and is decorated in red and black colors.
Why Does ISKCON Celebrate Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra?
The ISKCON Rath Yatra 2025 is not just a festival. In fact, it's an inspirational and soulful journey of Lord Jagannath. The Ratha Yatra festival is celebrated worldwide by ISKCON at various locations, including Vrindavan and Prayagraj, following the example of Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, who was deeply moved by the festival in Jagannath Puri.
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After reading this blog, you are now aware that Jagannath Puri Rath Yatra 2025 is not just a Hindu festival, it's a celebration of divine, love, spirituality and unity. If you consider yourself a true devotee of Lord Vishnu and want to participate in this sacred chariot pulling, you must visit the holy city of Puri in Odisha with your family. Here, you can experience spirituality along with festive vibes. Hurry up! Time is like falling like sand in your hand. So, book the best Odisha tour packages and prepare your soul and mind to be a part of this grand festival.
Jagannath Puri Rath Yatra 2025 – FAQ’s
Annually held at the city of Puri in Odisha, it is a ceremonial procession in which Lord Jagannath along with his siblings, Balabhadra and Subhadra are carried from Jagannath Temple to Gundicha Temple within a span of 9 days.
Due to promoting spirituality, equality and unity, Jagannath Rath Yatra is one of the major festivals celebrated in Odisha. People from all walks of life pull the chariots and soak in the great spiritual ambiance.
Puri Jagannath Rath Yatra 2025 will begin on June 27 and conclude on July 5. The sacred festivals will span nine days and deities will return to the main shrine on July 8.
There are many mythological stories attached to it. However, one of the most popular stories is when Lord Krishna left for Dwarka from Mathura, Goddess Radha and the villagers of Braj made him promise to come once a year to meet them. This Rath Yatra is linked to that belief and hence, Lord Vishnu comes to earth once a year to meet his devotees.
You can watch Puri Jagannath Rath Yatra live on the Doordarshan (DD) Odia YouTube channel. You can also find live coverage on various news channels like OTV. Additionally, other YouTube channels like India Today and ETV Bharat also provide live streaming.
Not at all! Majorly celebrated in Puri, this Rath Yatra is also observed in many cities of India, including Ahmedabad, Gujarat, Vrindavan, Prayagraj, and more. The ISKCON temple marks this auspicious event with great devotion and spirituality.
The Ratha Yatra is a 3-kilometer journey that follows the route of the Bada Danda (Grand Road) from Jagannath Temple to Gundicha Temple. The deities are carried on highly decorated chariots along this route.
The name of Lord Jagannath's Rath (chariot) is Nandighosha. It is also known as Garudadhwaja and Kapidhwaja. This chariot is the largest of the three chariots used in the Rath Yatra festival, with a height of 45 feet.
